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The New Orleans Saints have signed two-time All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson to compete with Charlie Smyth for the side’s starting kicker position.<\/b><\/p>\n
Smyth, a former Gaelic footballer from Mayobridge in Northern Ireland, was the incumbent coming into pre-season having assumed the role from Blake Grupe in November.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old made 12 of 16 field goals and was successful on each of his 13 extra-point attempts as a starter last season. <\/p>\n
In June, the Saints signed Tanner Brown, previously of the Louisville Kings in the United Football League, to compete with Smyth but the 26-year-old missed a 39-yard field goal attempt in the side’s pre-season defeat by the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Smyth himself missed from 52 yards in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars a week prior and Kellen Moore’s side have now moved for Carlson.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 but waived during his rookie season and picked up by the then Oakland Raiders.<\/p>\n
Carlson had his best years in 2021 and 2022, when he was named second-team All-Pro and first-team All-Pro respectively. <\/p>\n
He has not missed a game in the past seven seasons but his 81.5% success rate from field goals last year was his lowest since 2019.<\/p>\n
Signed to a three-year contract last season, Smyth told BBC NI this month<\/a> that competition for places in the NFL is “just the way it is in this business” and that he would not be taking any such signings “personally”.<\/p>\n The Saints’ final pre-season game is against the Dallas Cowboys this weekend before their 2026 regular season begins at the Detroit Lions on 13 September.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n